Apple At It Again - MacBook AIR

[tim_redd]

I know I've posted this before, but I've been using FreeNAS and it's a great use for an old PC. I'd recommend it if you want to toy around, not for extremely important data. It'll support almost any data protocol you could want, and there are many other things you can do with it after you have it configured.

FreeNAS: The Free NAS Server - Home

 

[AirWalke]

Just downloaded the 1.1.3. update for iPhone. Very nice. But my question is that if I want to update my iPod touch, WHY do I have to pay $20? I don't get it. However, this update effectively makes the touch exactly like the iphone - sans the phone.

I considered it, but i've got my iPhone jailbroken on 1.1.2, and I'm afraid the update will break it. Is it worth restoring to my factory defaults and update it to the new version?

 

[cmoneyr]

The more I hear about this the more I don't like it.

No optical drive, so the laptop is super thin, but what about the "Superdrive" I have to carry around to be able to use CDs/DVDs?, getting harder to get all this in a manilla envelope.
No ethernet port, Wi-fi is fine, but to not even include one?
Non-removable battery, apparently they haven't learned from the iPod?
Mono-speakers...seriously?

and from what I hear all the components are basically non-upgradable. And all this for the super low price of $1,800, plus $100 for the super drive? Smells like a winner.

 

[bos]

The more I hear about this the more I don't like it.

No optical drive, so the laptop is super thin, but what about the "Superdrive" I have to carry around to be able to use CDs/DVDs?, getting harder to get all this in a manilla envelope.
No ethernet port, Wi-fi is fine, but to not even include one?
Non-removable battery, apparently they haven't learned from the iPod?
Mono-speakers...seriously?

and from what I hear all the components are basically non-upgradable. And all this for the super low price of $1,800, plus $100 for the super drive? Smells like a winner.

Yeah Im guessing die hards and nerds will be all over it. Other than that they wont sell a whole lot.

 

[cmoneyr]

Yeah Im guessing brianhos will be all over it. Other than that they wont sell a whole lot.

Fixed that for ya!

 

[ISUKyro]

Yeah Im guessing die hards and nerds will be all over it. Other than that they wont sell a whole lot.

Easy there, I'm a die hard nerd and I have no interest in Apple products - there is usually something out there that cost less and does more (hint hint: PCs) In all fairness though you have to give Apple credit for marketing there stuff.

 

[bos]

Easy there, I'm a die hard nerd and I have no interest in Apple products - there is usually something out there that cost less and does more (hint hint: PCs) In all fairness though you have to give Apple credit for marketing there stuff.

I meant apple nerds. Not the whole of nerd-dom. Otherwise I would be in there too. Apple spends alot on marketing. This can be related to the Corona conversation earlier.

 

[ISUKyro]

I meant apple nerds. Not the whole of nerd-dom. Otherwise I would be in there too. Apple spends alot on marketing. This can be related to the Corona conversation earlier.

LOL true!

 

[superdorf]

This is the computer that CEO's and wanna look cool wanabee nerds will use. I think it looks cool and if I had an extra $2k sitting around I would go buy one... It isn't practical for an IT geek, you just can't do everything.

 

[uthaman]

I really like Time Capsul. I have a MacBook Pro that I backup nightly onto a NAS that is part of our home server but with their new Time Capsul, I can finally get a Draft N router (built-in to T.C.) and take advantage of the built-in N support for quicker backups wirelessly.

I know there are other NAS solutions out there and other products that can do the same thing (Linksys, Netgear, Drobo, etc) but they are nowhere near ideal solutions for Mac owners or for the non-geeks that just want things to work.

Or, you could buy a 500GB USB hard drive from Buy.com for $120 and plug it into your wireless router. But, you Mac cultists will always pay that 100% Apple tax with a smile on your faces.

Apple seems to be REALLY losing their way lately. They are still making cool great looking products. But, they have reverted to the 1990s Apple that seems to make products these products that are targeted toward 10% or less of the market.

My best guess is that the elitest mentality of Apple is showing itself.

Flame on Apple lovers....

 

[Jer]

Or, you could buy a 500GB USB hard drive from Buy.com for $120 and plug it into your wireless router. But, you Mac cultists will always pay that 100% Apple tax with a smile on your faces.

Apple seems to be REALLY losing their way lately. They are still making cool great looking products. But, they have reverted to the 1990s Apple that seems to make products these products that are targeted toward 10% or less of the market.

My best guess is that the elitest mentality of Apple is showing itself.

Flame on Apple lovers....

I do have several NAS backup solutions already and I'm a geek but still get tired of all the manual mounting and other tasks that the current products require you to do on a Mac. Apple can charge more because people know that what they get will be worth it and because "it just works" for the majority of consumers.

Apple has always been one that targets the smaller percentages of the overall market and it's made them one of the most admired companies in the world. When they release their quarterly sales figures later this month it's estimated that their revenue will be over 10 Billion dollars - that's a pretty good chunck of change for targeting such a small segment of the consumer/business market. Add to that they have one of the biggest cophers of cash of any active company and you'll realize that they're doing something right.

Making a computer like this might seem "dumb" to some but the original iMac seemed dumb to many, as did the iPod. I think those turned out to be pretty good sellers:wink:

 

[drum1306]

haha. I love how a lot of people are claiming people who buy Mac's for being elitist. In my experience, the PC nerds who would rather spend their time making their whole system work for less money are a lot more full of themselves about it then a regular consumer who doesn't want to invest the time because they aren't interested enough. It's the same as buying a automatic transmission instead of a stick. Most people are just lazier, and don't see the price difference outweighing the effort. That seems to be the man driving point behind apple and their products - price premium for ease of use.

 

[Dormeezy]

I'm not sure how I feel about the lack of the cd/dvd drive.

 

[brianhos]

Ohh, I did not know they were missing a DVD drive, that is a deal breaker.

 

[cmoneyr]

Ohh, I did not know they were missing a DVD drive, that is a deal breaker.

I posted that on the first page, should I take this as you don't read my posts!?! Unfathomable.

Seriously though, this is not a horrible idea, but it seems the final product is really lacking in some areas. The lack of cd/dvd drive is a biggie, but I'd say for business users the lack of a removable battery may be equally annoying, I know people who'll carry a backup or 2 for long plane rides and such.

 

[uthaman]

... the main driving point behind apple and their products - price premium for ease of use.

I have always heard this point from Apple people. "A Mac is easier, it just works, so I am actually getting a bargain for the extra $500 I paid".

I guess I am not sure how much easier my Dell could have been to setup. I took it out of the box 6 months ago, and plugged it in.My 360 automagically found it on the network and I can stream all the media I have to it. (Including the things from iTunes...)

OK, maybe there is one thing I did to setup the Dell. That was to rip out the anti-virus and firewall software that came with the machine. The stuff that comes with the PCs is garbage. And I can guarantee I am no more vulnerable to a virus than any Mac.